3D Printing Refresher

To print a 3D file such as .stl on one of our FlashForge 3D printers, the file needs to be sliced. This step is crucial to getting a good print, as the preparation of all the parameters like nozzle and bed temperature, support structures, and speed can have a dramatic effect on the final print.

The Slicer we recommend using to prepare files is FlashPrint. This is an easy-to-use Slicer specifically designed for our printers. It’s available for free and you are welcome to download it to a personal computer to prepare your files beforehand, or use our imaged Mac Studio in the VizLab. For more complex operations, we also recommend using other Slicers such as Cura (free) or Simplify3D (license required, ask us).

Some important settings to note for a standard print:

• Nozzle size: 0.4mm
• Material Type: Flashforge-PLA for our standard PLA and HTPLA materials, 1.75mm
• Extruder Temperature: 210-215°C
• Platform Temperature: 50-60°C
• Infill Fill Density: 15% (can go higher for more strength or lower for less fill material)
• Raft enabled: Yes/no, depending on bed adhesion and support requirements

3D modeling is pretty tricky for beginners. We recommend using simple software like Tinkercad to get started. We also have licenses available for some Autodesk software for more in-depth work, and virtual reality software such as Gravity Sketch which allows you to create models in a 3D environment.